HIV/AIDS is not over--------Protect Yourself !!!!!

DEFINITIONS

Facts: HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is the virus that causes AIDS. This virus passes from person to person through blood-to-blood and sexual contact. People with HIV have what is called HIV infection; many  will eventually develop AIDS as a result of their HIV infection. Scientists in France identified HIV (the virus that causes AIDS) in 1983. Soon after, American scientists also identified it. The French called the virus LAV (lymphadenopathy-associated virus), while the Americans called the virus either HTLV-III (human T-cell lymphotropic virus-III) or ARV (AIDS-related virus). Upon comparing the viruses, scientists found they  were the same. Later, the name of the virus was changed to HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), which it is called at the present.

                Only certain body fluids of an HIV-infected person can spread the virus. They are:

      Although other body fluids will contain a relatively small amount of the HIV, research shows that there is not sufficient enough virus available in these fluids to transmit from one human being to another. Therefore, just coming into casual contact with someone infected with HIV has little or no risk to ones own health. HIV is spread by sexual contact with an infected person, by needle-sharing among injecting drug users (IDUs), or, less commonly (and now very rarely in countries where blood is screened  for HIV antibodies), through transfusions of infected blood or blood clotting factors. Babies born to HIV-infected women may become infected before or during birth, or through breast-feeding after birth.

Facts: AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) is a condition that results from HIV infection. The infection is caused by a virus known as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). By the time people with HIV develop AIDS, the virus has usually damaged their immune systems. Thus, they develop diseases that most healthy people can normally resist or control, such as certain pneumonia's, thrush, or recurrences of childhood  infections. They may also suffer from cancers rarely found among people with healthy body defenses. AIDS is not a single disease. It is a spectrum of conditions that occur when a person's immune system is seriously damaged after years of attack by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV, therefore, is the virus that causes AIDS.

      At the present time, people with HIV/AIDS are living much longer than 4 years ago. Primarily due to the advent of new medications. The new "Drug Cocktails", 3-4 drug combinations, have been very effective in suppressing the rapid growth and devastation caused by this virus. However they are still not effective for all patients. There is no "cure", and the rate of HIV infection continues to rise in the United States, and all over the world. Especially in our young people 19 to 35 years old. Including young women of child bearing age. Statistics are also rising more rapidly for people of color. Sources: U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, and the Center For Disease Control.

TESTING: Testing for the HIV antibodies is the only positive way to know if you or anyone else is infected with the Human immunodeficiency virus. There are two different types of tests available at this time in Douglas County. 1. A Blood  serum test (blood draw) or 2. An Oral Collection Device test (OraSure). The oral collection type is used  in the Outreach Program for its ease of administration, high tolerance to adverse conditions, no needles and is just as accurate as a blood  serum test.